The Northern Ireland Civil Service (NICS) has launched its 2027/28 Civil Service, 51-week Student Placement Scheme, offering approximately 90 paid placements across Government departments. The scheme, now recruiting for its seventh year, offers an excellent opportunity for legal students to put their classroom learning into practice, develop personally and professionally, and undertake meaningful work in the public sector that directly impacts the lives of citizens.
The 90 placements to be filled through this competition will span a range of Departments. Departments within which law students may be placed include:
The salary for each placement is £25,796 per annum and includes an attractive benefits package and access to peer support through the Civil Service Student Network.
This is a great scheme which has benefitted many of our law students over the years, and the NICS is keen for QUB students to apply. Rachel, a previous QUB Law with Politics student, completed the scheme in August 2025 and noted during her placement the valuable experience gained:
Rachel has since returned to the NI Civil Service, securing a position as a Trainee Solicitor in the Departmental Solicitor's Office after gaining a place at the Institute of Professional Legal Studies, demonstrating the longer-term career opportunities that can arise from the programme.
Applicants must, by the closing date for applications, be expected to have successfully completed their second-year degree exams by the end of the 2026/2027 academic year. Successful candidates should then be prepared to take up post during the period July - September 2027.
Full details of the scheme can be accessed within the Candidate Booklet at:
General-Student-Placement-2027-28.pdf
Important Information: